Wichita eagle., 1887-05-13
-SSAilzs~
@ai1Y& eagle
SlMIAN SERVANTS.
OOMESTICS TO BE RECRUITED FROM
THE MONKEY TRIBES.

An Interesting Problem Discussed by .
French Naturalist-Not New idea
Some Very Interesting Cases-The Mex
Question.
Can monkeys be domesticated and made a
useful to man as the horse, the OK and he as
are useful, but in different way? Such i
the interesting problem discussed in bool
just issued here by NJ Victor Meunier, wht
has made study of these curious specimens
of the animal kingdom.
And this problem, according to the author
will in time receive a successful solution
Mankind will in the future draw from the
ranks Of the Sinan tribes servants skillfu
enough to perform tasks now only discharged
by reaSoning-F bad almost said reasonable
-bclngs-taSks that require only strength OF
muscle, skill Of hand and ordinary intelIi
gence.
But ". Ieunier draws q very distinct line
between the higher and lower orders of the
monkey race. Among the latter he places the
Barbary ape, the pouched, the striated and
other varieties; among the former the chin
panzee, the gorilla, the orang-outang and the
''gibbon,' or long armed species. And it is
only from among the last named that the SER
wants of the future viii be recruited.
NOT A BAD IDEA.
Nor is the idea of Simian domestics a new
one. Button, in the last century, staked his
great reputation as naturalist on the follow
ing statement:
81 have seen a chimpanzee that always
walked on two legs, even when carrying
heavy burdens. a word or sign was suffi-
Gent to make him obey, and his temper was
equable and gentle l have seen him offer bis
hand to lead out those who had been calling
on his master and walk with them like com
panion. l have seen him take his seat at
table, unfold his napkin, wipe bis lips, use a
spoon and fork, pour out a glass of wine and
pledge a health when invited have seen
him take cup and saucer, place it Oh the
table, pour out tea, put sugar in it. let it get
cool before drinking, and all without other
instigation than the signs or words of his
master.
"He never injured any one, but always APP
preached you carefully and as if wishing to
be petted. He was prodigiously fond of can
dies, everybody fed him with them, and as he
had q cough and his lungs were affected, it is
supposed that the indulgence of this appetite
shortened his life He only lived ope summer
in Paris and died the following winter in
London
Another learned savant, Camille Flam-
marion, points out that all the chimpanzees
that have been brought to Europe have been
similarly docile One that had been brought
to the geological garden in Antwerp was
taken into the family of the superintendent.
He showed affection for his masters children
shared their games, went with them into the
garden, picked cherries for them, dragged
them about in little carriage and even some
times dined with them, when he would empty
glass Of champagne to the health of tho COM
pany
A TRAINED FEMALE MONKEY,
A female monkey, described by Capt
Grandperret, had been trained while on a
voyage to America to heat the oven, and per-
formed her duties to the satisfaction of all
concerned. She was careful not to let the
burning Goals tumble out on the deck and
was evidently pleased when the proper degree
Of heat was obtained She would then 60
and inform the baker. But this was not her
only speciality, or, to speak more correctly,
she had no speciality. She could turn her
hand q to all and any of the ordinary en-
Payments of the sailor, such as weighing an
Choir, taking in sail and making everything
taut, and not only this, but what she did was
SO well done that the Jack Tars came to re-
gard her as quite one of themselves.
AT Loango chimpanzee was trained TO go
for water to the river and wood to the forest,
sweep the room, make the beds, turn the spit,
etc. Having fallen sick bleeding set him on
his feet agaul. Nor did he forget what
cured him, for being again attacked year
afterwards, and seeing the doctor come into
the room, he held out his arm that the process
might be repeated.
An explorer, N. Poussielque, travelling in
Florida, was one day entertained at San
Geronimo 10y Gen. Llorente. The latter
several times referred to his servant Antonio,
and striking a bell Antonio appeared. He
was a monkey about four feet in height,
dressed in white trousers and a red vest and
wearing cap. At a signal from his master
he stuck napkin under his arm and laid the
table And adds NJ. Poussielque, "he
waited on us doing everything himself, more
rapidly than four negro servants would
have done it." Antonio was Il years old,
having been born in the Gaboon and brought
to Florida by the negro who had educated
him.
The question then recurs, can the monkey
be domesticated and made subservient to
man. as the dog, the horse, the OK has been
made "bservient The dog has been trained
to hunt and be faithful guardian of mans
interests; the OK has been taught to drag
heavy loads, but the intelligence of the ape
far surpasses any of the 50 called domestic
animals, in that he alone has hand and can
become n workman.-Paris Cor. New York
Graphic.